Dwight Howard Seeking a Second Opinion on Back Injury in Los Angeles

Dwight Howard is on his way to L.A. and likely won’t be playing for the Orlando Magic over the next three games. The big fella is headed to the Left Coast to get a second opinion on his injured back. Per the Orlando Sentinel: “Howard has missed four of the Magic’s last six games because of back spasms, and he suffered a setback when he practiced with the team Thursday. ‘He was not comfortable after practice yesterday at all,’ coach Stan Van Gundy said after the Magic completed their shootaround today. ‘I think [he] was hopeful that it would feel better. It didn’t. It felt worse to him, and so I think he wants to go consult somebody else.’ Howard and Van Gundy insisted as recently as Thursday afternoon that Howard has no structural issue with his back, such as a bulging disk. Van Gundy said that an MRI revealed no potentially long-term problems. ‘There’s nothing I can really do but continue to stay on it, stretch, get massages, do whatever I can,’ Howard said Thursday afternoon. ‘I’m just trying not to let it happen again, but I don’t want to go out there till I’m 100 percent. My team needs me playing 100 percent and not out there playing 60 or 70 percent.’ Ed Manalo, the team’s physical therapist, accompanied Howard to Southern California, Magic spokesman Joel Glass said.”